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The Star Trek Computer: Now Available from Google

Ever wish you could have the computer from Star Trek? Now you can. Jon Mitchell of ReadWriteWeb reports, "The new version of Google’s Search app for iOS is available in the App Store, and it’s a good thing, too. This app now offers Google’s version of the Star Trek computer. Just speak a question in natural language, and Google will reply immediately with the answer. Google submitted this update to Apple in early August. It showed a demo on August 9 that blew my mind. The speed and accuracy of this app’s answers — which, of course, Android users are already used to — shows just how much Apple users are missing out due to Apple’s insistence on bypassing Google with Siri."

He continues, "But the app sat and sat without being released to the App Store — with no explanation from Apple. Google representatives answered questions about it with gritted teeth. The app made Siri look bad. Of course Apple would take its sweet time releasing it. But now it’s here. Google’s understanding of natural language and real-world concepts is available to users of Apple’s hardware as a fast, intelligent assistant. The free app is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. If you try it out, I bet Siri will get lonely."